Combined automatic coupling for a train-pipe and valve-actuating mechanism.



C. LARSEN. COMBINED AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR A TRAIN PIPE AND VALVE ACTUATI'NG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25, I914.

Patented June 29, 1915.

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C-LARSEN.

COMBINED AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR A TRAIN PIPE AND VALVE VACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25, I9I4.

' Patented June 29, 1915.

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WU MILMaA THE NORRIS F'E-TERS CO.. PHDTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON, r-

CHRISTIAN LARSEN, OF LAKE BENTON, MINNESOTA.

COMBINED AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR A TRAIN-PIPE AND VALVE-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed April 25, 1914. Serial No. 834,477.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN LARsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Benton, in the county of Lincoln and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Automatic Coupler for a Train-Pipe and Valve-Actuating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic V coupler for the air pipes of cars, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a coupler which is so constructed that the couplers of theadjoining cars may be automatically connected when the cars are coupled, apparatus being also provided by means of which the controlling valves of the air pipes may be opened when the cars are coupled and closed when the cars are uncoupled. 7

Another object of the invention is to so construct the coupler that the pipes of the adjoining cars may be securely connected without danger of leakage, and at the same time to permit the air pipes to disconnect in case the coupler of the car does not operate and thus prevent the air pipes from being wrenched loose and destroyed when the train moves and leaves the uncoupled car standing upon the track. This will also prevent danger of a train pipe being wrenched loose by a train-hand forgetting to uncouple the air pipes when two cars are uncoupled.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for slidably and yieldably mounting the train couplers, and to also provide a valve operating mechanism so constructed that it will be very simple in construction, but at the same time very efiective in operation.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a view showing the pipe couplers of adjoining cars, one being shown in longitudinal section and the other in side elevation. Fig.2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 1s a top plan view of the pipe couplers of adjoining cars; Fig. 5 is a view in elevation looking at the collar mounted upon the inner end of the sliding rod forming part of the coupler; Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the two couplers in interlocked relation; Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of one of the couplers.

The couplers at the ends of a car are identical in construction, as shown in Fig. 4. where the train pipes of two cars are shown coupled, and therefore a description of the coupler at one end of a car will suffice fora description of both the couplers.

The coupler 10 is provided with a mouth 11 intended to receive the tongue 12 of an adjoining coupler, as shown in Fig. 6, and is provided with an air passage 13 which extends through the tongue 12 longitudinally of the same and has its outer end threaded so that a nipple 14 may be screwed into the outer end of the air passage 13. This nipple 141 is provided so that the flexible hose 15 of the train pipe 16 may be connected with the coupler 10 by means of the union 17 which is screwed upon the outer end portion of the nipple 14 as shown in Fig. 6. The inner end of the air passage 13 terminates in an enlarged seat in which a gasket 18 is placed to form an air tight joint, and thus permit air to pass from the pipe 15 of one car to the pipe 16 of a second car without leakage. The coupler 10 is carried by an arm or bar 19 which passes through the guiding and supporting brackets 20 and 21 secured to the car by means of bolts or other fasteners 22. This arm carries a spring 23 which engages an abutment washer 24 at one end, and has its opposite end portion extending into a guard sleeve 25. This guard sleeve will protect the spring from exposure throughout the greater portion of its length when the pipes are coupled, as shown in Fig. 4, and will also serve to hold the spring in the proper shape and prevent the buckling of the spring. The bracket 20 does not receive any pressure when the spring is compressed, and therefore does not need to be braced, but the bracket 21 needs to be braced in order to prevent its fasteners 22 from working loose or bending; and therefore the braces 26 have been provided. These braces 26 have their upper ends secured to the car by means of the bolts 27 and their lower outer ends secured to the bracket 21 by means of bolts 28. i V

It should be noted that the braces extend in diverging relation as shown in Fig. 4 in order to better brace the bracket. By having the arms of the couplers slidably mounted and held in a normal position by the springs 23, the couplers will be normally held in an extended position. Whenthe cars of a train are coupled, the two couplers 10 of the train pipes will interioek, shown in Fig. 6, and the arms will be moved under the cars to the position shown in 1 and 4:. The springs will therefore hold the couplers tightly together and form a very tight joint. While these couplers are held in tight engagement when the ears coupled, the couplers can easily slip out of engagement with each other when the cars are uncoupled.

An abutment collar :29 is secured to the inner end of "the arm 19 to prevent the spring from moving the arm outwar'dly'beyond a desired amount, and is provided with an extension or ea-r 3'0 with which the rod 31 is connected by means of the pin '32. This rod '31 extends outwardly with its forward end slidably mounted in the bearing 33, the forward end portion of the rod 31 being flattened and provided with a pin '34; which extends into the slot 35 of the lever 36. This lever 36 is secured to the valve shaft 37 whichh as one end journaled i'nthe bearing 38 and its opposite end connected with the stem 39 oiith'e valve 450.

When the cars are coupled and the couplers joined as already described, and the arms 19 moved forwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the rods 31 win be drawn inwardly by the collars 2'9 and will rock the levers 36, thus rotating the valve shafts 37 to turn the valve stems 39 and open the valves of the train pipes 16. The air will then flow through the pipe of one car through its flexible pipe 15 to its coupler 10, and through this coupler into the second coupler connected with the same and through "the flexible pipe 15 of the second car into the pipe 16 past the valve 40 of the second car which has also been opened.

When the cars are uncoupled and the arms 19 returned 'to their original position 'by the springs 23, the rods 31 will be moved outwardly to rotate the shafts 37' and "close the valves of the train pipes. It should be noted that the valves are opened and closed While the cars are separating, and "that since the couplers 10 do not become diseonnected until the springs have eikpanded as far as possible, the air will not escape from the pipes and be wasted.

it will thus be "seen that a very 'eiiicient train pipe coupler has been provided by means of which the pipes may be automatically connected and disconnected as the cars are coupled; and which is so constructed tli'at the valves of thei-air. pipes may be opened and closed as the cars are coupled oruncoupled. It will also be noted that it is not necessary for the train-man to walk between the cars to connect the air pipes or to open or close the valves 40 since the couplers work automatically and do not need any ;att enti0n whatever.

What is claimed is:

A system of the character described comprising a pipe, supporting means, a carrying member carried by said supporting mealns, means fot'r-yeieldably holding carryin means a normaI position, a couplei" cal r ied by said earry ing means, a valve for said pipeya pipe connected with said coupier aarl with said first-mentioned i e,

a shafit leading the stem of said valve ing means, an operating lever carried by said 's'lra'ttt, a "rod sliiiably conneeted with said iever and having one end portion Sii'erabiy connected with said supporting means and the opposite 'end connected with said carryin 'iiieaiistwherety movement of and ietatably *Gdfihiid with said s pport:

said carrying iheails will move said r'ci "to move said lever and rotate said shaft to operate said valve.

2. A system of the character described comprising a valve eontrolled conduit, supporting brackets, carrying means sl i'dably supported by said brackets, a coupler "carried by said means and comment eating with said conduit, resilient means mounted upon said carrying means Between said coupler and one of said brackets to yieldably hol'd said carrying means in a normal position, a valve shah; leading from the vailve of said conduit and i'otatably eonneeted with one bit said supporting brackets, operating lever extending iirom said shaft ahd. provided With a slot, a I'Od con'nedte'd with said "carrying means and slid-ably connected with brie-of said brackets and provided with a pin passing through the slot of said mixer to cause said lever to be moved when carrying means is moved and move lever "toturn the shaft and operate said valve. 7

'3. A system of "the eharacte'r described comprising a valve-controlled conduit, supports, a carrying member carried by said supports, a coupler carried by said carrying member and connected with said conduit, a

spring placed upon said eai rying member n the valve of said conduit and rotatably 0011- nected with one of saids'upportsyan operating lever carried by said shaft, a guide carried by said "siip po'r ts, a collar carried by said carryingmemb'er, a rod connected with said collar and having its opposite end por- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature tion supported by said guide, and means in presence of two Witnesses. connecting said rod With said lever to cause said lever to be moved when said rod is CHRISTIAN LARSEN' .moved by said carrying member and cause Witnesses:

said shaft to be rotated to operate the valve PETER J. SoRENsEN,

of said conduit. N. M. WIND.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. G. 

